Impatiens plant named ‘Balfafbricol’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balfafbricol’ characterized by its bright coral-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfafbricol’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfafbricol’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Illinois during November 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Impatiens cultivars with numerous large flowers, attractive flower colors and freely basal branching, trailing growth habit.

The new cultivar is an irradiation induced sport of ‘Balfafusia’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,588, characterized by its bright purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and semi-trailing growth habit. The irradiation occurred on Nov. 5, 2002. The new cultivar was discovered and selected on May 27, 2003 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2003 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfafbricol’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Bright coral-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in flower color.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars known to the inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Balfafusia’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,588. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balfafusia’ in the following characteristic: Plants of the new cultivar have a different flower color from plants of ‘Balfafusia’.

In addition, the new cultivar is similar in comparison to ‘Balfafpinsar’, co-pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/296,818. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balfafpinsar’ in mature foliage color and fully-open petal color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfafbricol’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balfafbricol’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balfafbricol’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jul. 31, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 68° F. to 80° F. (20° C. to 26° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15° C. to 18° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 4,000 to 7,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens×hybrida cultivar Balfafbricol. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parent.—‘Balfafusia’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,588. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fine and fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 18.9 cm. Width: Approximately 53.3 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 6             branches per plant.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 16.8 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 8.8 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:             144A with overlay of 187B. Internode length at center of             branch: Approximately 3.5 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 14.             Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.             Aspect: At acute angle to stem. Shape: Elliptic. Margin:             Serrate, ciliate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of leaf at center of stem:             Approximately 6.9 cm. Width of leaf at center of stem:             Approximately 2.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest             to 137A with venation of 145B. Color of lower surface of             mature foliage: Closest to 138B with venation of 143B.             Petiole length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Petiole diameter:             Approximately 2.1 mm. Petiole texture: Glabrous. Petiole             color: Lighter than 145B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfafbricol’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 12 weeks from sticking             of unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 4 to 6 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single. Borne: Above foliage. Quantity per plant at             nine weeks: Approximately 39. Fragrance: None.         -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oval. Quantity showing color             at nine weeks: Approximately 22. Length: Approximately             1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.1 mm. Color: 51A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Round, slightly cupped when first open,             petals become flattened with age. Diameter: Approximately             4.8 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Flat.             Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate.             Base of upper petal: Truncate. Base of lateral and lower             petals: Attenuate with each lateral petal fused with a lower             petal at base. Texture: Glabrous. Length of upper petal:             Approximately 2.3 cm. Width of upper petal: Approximately             2.9 cm. Length of lateral petal: Approximately 2.6 cm. Width             of lateral petal: Approximately 2 cm. Length of lower petal:             Approximately 2.9 cm. Width of lower petal: Approximately             2.2 cm. Color of upper surface of all petals when first             open: Closest to 50A with base of 71C. Color of lower             surface of all petals when first open: 52B. Color of upper             surface of upper petal when fully open: Closest to 52A with             venation and base of 71C. Color of upper surface of lateral             petals when fully open: Closest to 52A with venation of 71C.             Color of upper surface of lower petals when fully open:             Closest to 52A with midrib of 71B, and area of 71A just             above base of 71C. Color of lower surface of all petals when             fully open: 52C with midvein and base of 71C.         -   Spur.—Quantity: One per flower. Length: Approximately             5.3 cm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 0.7 mm. Diameter at             base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144C             with overlay of 64C and tip of 144A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 4.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145C.         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals per flower: 4. Upper sepal is             fused to lower surface of upper petal. Apex: Acuminate.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous with sparse             pubescence along midvein. Shape of lateral sepal: Ovate.             Length of lateral sepal: Approximately 1.3 cm. Width of             lateral sepal: Approximately 5.0 mm. Color of lateral sepal:             3C with overlay of 45A and 56D at base. Shape of lower             sepal: Ovate. Length of lower sepal: Approximately 1.4 cm.             Width of lower sepal: Approximately 9.4 mm. Color of lower             sepal: 55B with tip of 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5, fused             around pistil at apex. Anther shape: Hooded. Anther length:             Approximately 1.2 mm. Anther color: 11C. Pollen amount:             Sparse. Pollen color: 11D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Stigma             shape: Five pointed star. Stigma length: Approximately             0.1 mm. Stigma color: Colorless, translucent. Style length:             Approximately 0.9 mm. Style color: Colorless, translucent.             Ovary length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary diameter:             Approximately 1.6 mm. Ovary texture: Glabrous. Ovary color:             143B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Impatiens has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balfafbricol’, substantially as herein shown and described. 